Saved by Moraine: It's Good to be Tall and the Return of the Water Baby

Just as the beginning of summer deserves a celebration, so does the end of summer. What could be better than a trip to the water park at the rec center? We were careful to make sure the pool would be open on Labor Day, and we thoughtfully decided to go in the evening because it wouldn't be as crowded. So after an early dinner, we all changed into our swimming suits and packed the car full of towels, sunglasses, and extra clothes. We pulled into the parking lot at 5:35--only to learn that it had closed at 5:oo. Bummer! I guess we should have checked what time the pool was closing. So there we were, pathetically sitting in an empty parking lot, wearing our swim suits, loaded down with pool gear, and listening to our three-year-old ask if he was going to go down the big water slide (the answer was no). What a sad bunch we were.

Fortunately, Kettering isn't the only city with a rec center complete with water park. Greg had heard about a water park in the city of Moraine that gives great military discounts. With a few phone calls, we learned that the water park is called Splash! Moraine, it was out by the old (technically, soon-to-be-old) GM plant, and it was open until 7:00. It was 5:42 at this point and it would be a twenty minute drive. But we figured one hour was better than nothing! So we drove past the soon-to-be-old GM plant (the rows and rows of SUVs explain the soon-to-be-old part), and I have to admit that it seemed like one of the last places where you would expect to see a water park. But sure enough, there in a nice green oasis was the City of Moraine's rec center and its water park, complete with a big fenced-in baby splash pool, wave pool, and water slides. Hooray!

So being really tall when you're three can be a bummer when strangers (and even non-strangers) expect you to act like you're five. But when you live for thrills and you measure 40+ inches tall, clearly above the requirement for the big water slides, height is a wonderful thing. Not that I would know anything about being tall. But at least I was tall enough to take David myself a couple of times!

David wasn't the only kid having fun. Our little water baby made a reappearance. Mary was cute, curious, and content. We are hoping Mary officially likes swimming now.
(Look at this pose):

So, thank you, Moraine, and farewell, summer. But the fun is only beginning for this family. Greg has off the next month . . . and so far no thesis data to analyze. Hello, September!